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Monday, August 21, 2017

Newton's law of universal gravitation is still used today as the basis of calculating the attraction of masses. Newton could predict the falling of an apple. Einstein's general theory of relativity describes gravity not as a force, but as a consequence of the curvature of spacetime, a four dimensional unified field on which every change would occur. Although Einstein's theory is mathematically elegant, the difficulty of his field equations and the theory's failure of application over large scales of the universe, makes it insufficient and with limited utility. The subordination of time as a minor, fourth dimension to space might have distorted their essential differences. For example, space can be navigated at will, whereas time is largely irreversible. It requires energy to move in space, but time carries an irresistible flow of change even if we are standing still. These and other differences make time and space incompatible quantities and turns spacetime a faulty concept in physics.

The Standard Model, the most widely accepted theory in physics, neither explains dark energy and dark matter, nor does it incorporate gravity. In the above video time is considered to be a field with equal importance to gravity or space. The spatial geometry give rise a pressure, which is felt as gravity. Therefore gravity is the consequence of spatial tightness, rather than attraction.

Monday, August 14, 2017

Google employee, James Damore wrote a memo that discusses the role of women in the tech world. He was fired. The firestorm that followed might give an opportunity to take stock about the changing role of women and men in society. The memo evaluated the biological differences between the sexes. Males have bigger brain size in proportion to their body, yet no sex difference can be found in working memory capacity and female subjects regularly perform better on verbal abilities. Males do better on tests that measure visual-spatial abilities, such as spatial perception and mental rotation. Looking for the origin of this sex difference it is good to go back to biology. Predators can catch their prey, because larger brains helps them to better maneuver in space. However, the enlargement of male brain probably has more to do to reproduction and sex, than catching dinner. The early history of romance probably was not a Cinderella story, but the ability to prevail in fist-fight against other suitors, cunning temperament toward raiding and kidnapping, which favored men with superior orientation in space. Does spatial orientation is an advantage in programming and the tech world? Not likely.

Do superior orientation in space give men greater success in the board room? The masculine character trait of sensation-seeking, which is the willingness to engage in novel or intense activities, might be an advantage in the intense competition for leadership. Especially in traditional settings, cutthroat competition requires ruthlessness, aggression and daring, which is often accompanied by the willingness to bend the rules. Until very recently, women could rarely not set foot in the mail dominated, intimidating environment. Even in orchestras, women were not welcomed until the 1970s. The introduction of blind auditions, in which the identity of candidates is concealed from the jury by a screen, have increased the chances of advancement of women by 50 percent. The percent of female musicians in the five highest-ranked orchestras in the nation have increased from 6 percent in 1970 to 21 percent in 1993 and 35 percent overall. Similar 'blind' hiring probably would advance women's professional opportunities elsewhere, also.

The above changes have been possible because of social transformations in the twentieth century. For example, the nearly full participation of women in society (women entering the workplace and the sexual revolution) have created a more cooperative social climate for both men and women. Old-boy networks, bullying are becoming old fashioned methods in business, because new laws against discrimination, fraud, and instituting special protection for whistle-blowers. These reformulated social dynamics mutes conflicts and ushers in more democratic and flexible social environment. A more accepting society nurtures trust, which is conducive to social and technological progress. Emotional intelligence in personal and professional situations is increasingly valued. Such feminization of the social environment leads to openness, trust, opportunities and wider professional participation for both men and women.

However, the changing work environment also includes the mutual respect of the sexes. As the recent exposure of Weinstein, one of the most powerful men in the movie industry, of sexual misconduct has shown that our most recent history has not been supportive of equality of the sexes. When powerful men get away with predatory, abusive behavior, equality between the sexes remains illusory. Weinstein downfall has opened the floodgates for exposing sexual misconduct about high powered public figures. Will the wave of accusations and resignations change the work-culture for the better? Success should depend on the abilities and the will to to make a difference, even in the techworld. Quotas rarely create change societies, people do. Programming is no more mysterious, than driving a car. In twenty years, the number of female programmers might equal or surpass of that of males.

Monday, August 7, 2017

A hundred year ago or so the middle class in most parts of the world has lived in dire circumstances. Conveniences, which we take for granted, such as electricity, running water and indoor toilet were lacking, appliances, such as refrigerator, vacuum cleaner, lawn mower were non-existent. If you are reading my blog, then your life is very different from the above description. In our modern world we rely on our increasingly sophisticated environment for support. We gaze into the screen of our cell phones, like Aladdin into the treasure cave. This gadget is constant companion for communication with friends, family, weather forecast, news, appointment reminder, and for self-adulation. Cars are ubiquitous signs of material success, but in certain parts of the world such as in the US, cars are almost obligatory part of adult life. The home is the great cultural indicator of personal, professional status, which holds utilitarian objects, personal mementos and decorations that personalize the dwelling. Our reliance on our belongings, from the bed that provide comfortable night rest, to the nourishing morning meal, ensures a stable, reliable lifestyle. Technologically advanced tools provide the backbone of modern existence, but conveniences also increasingly include visiting restaurants for a midday meal or picking up a coffee at Star Bucks. Advertisements and credit make it easy and almost unavoidable to roll out the bucks for new kitchen counter gizmo, or the jersey of your favorite player, the latest phone, or a goofy Halloween display.

However, the new gadget, appliance or technical gizmo is only interesting for a short while; it might be delegated to the closet corner, collecting dust and occupying valuable space before all its capabilities are figured out. So you paid good money to artificially reduce the size of your house. Goods, which supposed to support your lifestyle, now dangerously encroach on it as the things you enthusiastically bought a few months or years ago take up closet space. Rather than supporting your life, these goods handicap it, because it is impossible to keep track of their existence. The stuff might be out of conscious perception, but it is uncertain what is lurking in the closet, attic or basement. Instead of serving your needs, these objects hinder your life. Like quick sand, they pull you down, hurting you when we least expects it: when you are in a hurry or managing an emergency.

It can be shown that advertisements work by interfering with already existing intentions, desires. So buying goods in excess is a sign of mental hesitation: when we do not know what we want, everything seem to solve the problem. Goals serve the guidance and motivation toward the future. The inability to focus on a goal you tend to invest hope in every sweet promise, which is brilliantly supplied by advertisers. A shopaholic might feel an arousal of a treasure hunter, which grows into a strong urge to shop and buy the item. But buying gives only a temporary feelings of relief. Because all addictions stem from seeking power at the wrong places, remorse, feeling of guilt, which is necessarily followed, only aggravates the problem.

The lack of inner progress against the relentless progression of time translates into a loss of control and insecurity. Addictions serve the immediate, although painfully transient, gain of control, in order to catch up to others, to society, to time itself. To produce accomplishments quickly, without investing time and work, is only possible by cutting corners, by getting a good deal or feeling high. However, the problem only gets bigger at each repeated offence, after each shopping spree, because the aftereffect of these shortcuts is always the realization of loss and failure, which actually exacerbates the addiction. Is there hope for a change?

Just like any other addiction, it takes long disciplined work to get your shopping addiction under control. Two ways to change: (1) Start a motivating activity that reins in your wayward attention. When you take part in an activity than produces positive change, you spur an inner movement toward the future. (2) Give away your excess belongings. When you share with others, you make world a better place and liberates you from guilt. The price of industrial products are coming down and probably will in the future. When you practice a thoughtfulness about your buying habits, you force yourself to focus on the future, which will turn into a habit. Focusing on the future is a goal oriented living, whether you are saving money for a new house, car or retirement. Be patient! Success does not happen overnight. When you take your first step toward the future, toward a better life, it will generate a sense of movement. When you are moving forward, your restlessness and uncertainty will subside. Your better life is the greatest reward.